Christian Science healed me of...

Barbara Alice McKechnie

Christian Science healed me of disillusionment and nervous exhaustion many years ago, and brought great comfort and joy into my life.

Before becoming interested in this Science people often wonder what life is and what its purpose is. During my last years at school and the first few of employment, I often asked this question of men and women of learning, responsibility, and experience in different walks of life, without obtaining any really satisfying answer. I looked as far as was then possible for me to look into medicine, religions, ethics, psychoanalysis, and so forth, but without results, until finally I lost my ideals and felt life was shallow and meaningless.

Although I was normally strong and healthy, my health and memory began to fail, and I suffered from chronic insomnia and its attendant ills. In spite of having no faith in medicine, I was compelled to consult a doctor, who recommended my giving up all thoughts of a career and living a quiet country life. I rebelled at this verdict. The doctor then prescribed the strongest sleeping draught he dared and said that was all he could do. The medicine was taken for two or three nights, but it had little effect and I threw it away.

A few months later a friend asked if I had ever heard of Christian Science. I had not, but said it would be interesting to look into it with the same open mind with which I had approached everything else. She thereupon lent me a copy of "Miscellaneous Writings" by Mary Baker Eddy. That night, as I read the book without understanding it at all, the thought came that no matter what it was about, or who wrote it, it was sincere and rang true. There was in it no padding, no untruth, no leading astray. I determined to go on reading until I could honestly say I understood.

Without discussing the matter I subscribed for the literature, read the Lesson-Sermon, and attended church services. It did not occur to me that Christian Science would restore my health and peace of mind. My search was for understanding. Then one night, after about three months' study, unable to sleep, I turned to the ninety-first Psalm and tried to memorize it. The light that only a small understanding of Science shed on the first two or three verses, the sense of peace and security they conveyed, and the dawning realization of our heavenly Father's loving-kindness gave me rest. I slept. The insomnia had vanished.

Months afterwards I realized what had happened. Christian Science also began to answer my questions. The answers were true and satisfying because they came from an indisputable authority—the all-knowing and all-wise Mind, which is God. I learned that Life is God, good, and that the purpose of man's life is to express goodness in thought, word, and deed. This simple but profound premise was something truly substantial upon which one could build. My ideals were restored.

Gradually Christian Science has brought me health, happiness, and peace of mind. It has given me everything that I have, and I have everything that I need and want. Twice it has altered the whole course of my career. In fact, for all the blessings that have flowed into my life through the study of this Science, I am most deeply and humbly grateful. My life must attest my sincerity.

To those seeking to rehabilitate their shattered hopes, one can only re-echo the words of our beloved Leader in the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (Pref., p. vii), "To those leaning on the sustaining infinite, to-day is big with blessings;"' and (p. 264), "When we learn the way in Christian Science and recognize man's spiritual being, we shall behold and understand God's creation,—all the glories of earth and heaven and man." —(Miss) Barbara Alice McKechnie, London, England.

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Testimony of Healing

For many years, from childhood...

November 22, 1947

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